Patient Information Sheet

9 Principles of Correct Manual Handling & Lifting

9 Principles of Correct Manual Handling & Lifting

1. Assess the Load & Plan the Lift Decide where and how you are going to move it. Is there a clear path to your destination and a suitable place to put the load down? By first assessing the situation, you can decide if mechanical assistance/aids or another person is needed to move the object, animal or person. 2. Ensure muscles and joints are warm & flexible Muscles should be warm before stretching. 3. Stand Close to the load To minimise back strain. Carrying a load away from the body can increase the weight of the load 10 times. 4. Position Feet apart for an evenly Balanced Posture when lifting 5. Lower the body & bend the knees 6. Get a firm grip on the load & pull the load as close to the body as possible. Use both hands & the whole hand rather than just the fingers. 7. Raise your Head & Straighten your Legs smoothly and without jerking This will allow the back to maintain the correct upright posture & ensure the arm & leg muscles take most of the force exerted by the load. Keep the load close to your body when lifting & moving the load. Figure 1
Reference: NOHSC 1990, National Standard (1001) & National Code of Practice (2005) for Manual Handling.

8. Carefully place the load at its destination Preferably at waist height. If it is to be placed on the ground then position feet, keep head and back as upright as possible, bend the knees & lower the load smoothly to the ground. Avoid twisting the body when carrying the load. 9. Where possible it is recommended that the semi-squat lift is used (fig 1). With this lift the normal standing curve of the low back is maintained. Note that the back is not vertical to the floor and that the feet are firmly planted on the floor.

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